Trivia

Self taught acrobat and martial artist since the age of 11.

He is legally blind in his right eye.

Competed on "American Gladiators" and won.

Competed on "Star Search" as lead singer. (November 1992)

His grandmother briefly had him study ballet at Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts.

Attended Cathedral High School in Boston, MA.

On March 14, 1996, Erik broke his right hip and thigh during a taping of a kids TV show, landing him in the intensive care unit for almost two weeks. It took five surgeries and almost three years of rehab five days a week to get him back in the loop again.

Coaches movement.

Was in a music group, Gentlemen of Distinction (G.O.D.) that opened for "Ready for the World", "Chico Debarge", and an unknown group at the time, "New Kids on the Block".

Has a tattoo of a black spider in the middle of his lower back

His first union feature film experience was a 2 day job as an extra in Garry Marshall's, Exit to Eden (1994) where he was bumped up to a 2 week principal performer w/lines, only to end up on the editing floor.

Son, with Melissa Barker, Jaden Isaiah Betts born. (September 11, 2002)

His mother, who is a talented artist and singer, is heavily into the Native American lifestyle

First job back from hip/thigh injury of 1996-1999 was on the set of "Wild Wild West" where Erik was called in to train Oscar Nominee Will Smith.

Son, Jaden shot his first national commercial for State Farm Insurance at the age of 5 months with director Spike Lee.

At age 16, while still finishing high school, was a third shift airplane engine inspector for the CFM56 department of General Electric in Everette, Massachusetts.

Has a chow chow named "Precious" who on the day of her first birthday was hit by a car and broke her right hip and thigh costing almost 10k, one year before Panther's own 1996 accident.

Helped train Christian Bale for Batman Begins (2005)

Was one of director Sam Raimi's choices for doubling actor 'Tobey Maquire' for Spider-Man (2002), but was told by the costume designer that his shoulders were too large for the costume

Since 1989, has trained and consulted countless actors, dancers, gymnasts, martial artists, cheerleaders, and stunt people in Acrobatics and Film Fighting techniques he calls "Hollywood Kung Fu", in southern California.

He was born on the fourth anniversary of JFK's death.

In production just finished shooting his acting debut in an independent feature titled, The Sensei starring Louis Mandylor, Keith David, Sab Shimono, Tzi Ma, Diana Lee Inosanto and Michael O'Laskey. (July 2005)

Working title "Knightcrawler" now in production as "Squir-rel" action/comedy. (September 2002)

Was roommates with martial arts actor Thunderwolf. Thunderwolf had a part in the 1992 movie Shootfighter, and suggest to Betts that he auditioned as well. Which lead to his movie career.